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EVALUATION OF CHROMIUM REMEDIATION IN GROUNDWATER:
INVESTIGATIONS USING MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS AND ELECTROKINETIC SYSTEMS
by
Lewis Hsu
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING)
August 2011
Copyright 2011 Lewis Hsu

Hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), is a common metallic carcinogen heavily used in industrial applications such as electroplating and leather tanning. Improper handling and disposal, along with the high solubility of Cr(VI), have led to widespread contamination of soil and water systems. Several remediation methods have been proposed, including biologically based techniques. ❧ Bioremediation of Cr(VI) is a promising approach due, in part, to the ability of the technique to rapidly lower Cr(VI) concentrations. The research presented here focuses on the development of a Cr(VI) remediation approach based on microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology. MFC technology has been proposed as a source of renewable energy and as a remediation tool. While much work has been done on developing the technology as a renewable energy source, relatively little work has been performed to assess its capabilities as a remediation tool. ❧ To address this shortcoming, the research presented here will showcase several aspects of using an MFC as a remediation tool. These include (i) a predictive modeling approach for biological Cr(VI) remediation, (ii) an evaluation of Shewanella bacteria as biocatalysts, (iii) the selection and analysis of mixed communities in a Cr(VI)-reducting MFC, and (iv) the integration of a Cr(VI)-reducing MFC with an electrokinetic system. ❧ These findings show that Cr(VI) removal to low parts-per-billion concentration levels is possible with MFC systems and that integration with existing technologies is a valuable application to consider when designing remediation strategies.

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EVALUATION OF CHROMIUM REMEDIATION IN GROUNDWATER:
INVESTIGATIONS USING MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS AND ELECTROKINETIC SYSTEMS
by
Lewis Hsu
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING)
August 2011
Copyright 2011 Lewis Hsu